Suspension



Dec. 1l, 195] R. N. JANEWAY susPENsIoN Filed Aug. 29, 1945 A f. f

Patented Dec. 11, 1951 SUSPENSION Robert N. Janeway, Detroit, Mich., assigner to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich., a.

corporation of Delaware vvApplication August 29, 1945, Serial No. 613,291

9 Claims.

This application relates to an automotive vehicle suspension involving springs and a shock absorber. More specically, it relates to the employment of such a suspension for the steerable wheels of an automobile.

It is believed that the general practice of connecting hydraulic damping devices across the entire spring suspension of automobiles is responsible not only for direct shock transmission to the car body, which is invariably experienced on bad roads, but also for aggravating vibration and noise, for shock absorbers and particularly those of the fluid or hydraulic type are in reality shock transmitters when they are subjected to impact. When rubber body mountings are used, noise transmission is reduced, but the secondary vibrations of thebody areundoubtedly amplied by impacts by-passed through the shock absorbers. Ihave overcome the above disadvantages by providing a spring series that includes a free and undamped, resilient means or spring and a damped, resilient means or spring.

An object of the present invention is to apply to an automotive vehicle suspension involving a 'shock absorber, a spring series made up of a free or undamped spring and a spring damped by the shock absorber. These springs may be of the 'coil ltype, and the shock absorber, of the hydraulic or uid type. With such a series arrangement the shock absorber is adapted to absorb vibrations, and the free spring is enabled to cushion impact which might otherwise be transmitted by being passed around the damped spring by way of the shock absorber.

Another object is to provide improvements in spring suspension to which is applied a shock absorber connected in such a Way as to absorb all vibrations and energy upon all relative movement' toward and away from one another of the parts between which the shock absorber is connected. This will involve solid connection of the shock absorber to certain parts across which one resilient spring means is connected, the one resilient means being one part of a spring series, the other part of such series being an undamped resilient spring means.

f A further object is to provide improvements in a suspension involving links connecting a vehicle frame and a ground wheel, which may be steerable. The suspension will include two spring sections, one of which is free and undamped, and the other has connected in parallel therewith a shock absorber. The shock absorber may be of the fluid or hydraulic type and may be solidly 2 connected at its ends to the parts between which it is to act as a damper.

Other objects will appear from the disclosure.

The reference character it designates a frame member of an automotive vehicle. A bracket Il attached to the frame member supports a bolt l2 forming the pivotal connection of an inner end of a lower long link i3 to the frame member it. The link i3 may be of the Wishbone type. lts outer end is pivotally connected by a bolt I4 to the lower end of a carrying member l5, to the upper end of which is pivotally connected by means of a bolt l5 the outer end of an upper short link Il. The link il may be of the wish" bone type having spaced portions at its inner end connected by bolts i8, only one being shown, to a bracket I9 secured to the frame member l0. A portion 2B of the bracket i9 projects upwardly a considerable distance and supports a bolt'2l pivotally connecting the upper end of a shock absorber 22 to the bracket portion 2D. The shock absorber 22 includes an upper part formed of a ring 23 mounted on the bolt 2l, an end member 24 secured thereto by soldering or Welding as indicated at 25, a piston rod 25 extending through and secured to the end part 24 and perhaps also to the ring 23, and an outer sleeve 2i suitably attached to the end part 24 and depending therefrom. A conventional shock absorber piston 21, which may have Valve-controlled passages extending therethrough, is secured to the lower end of the piston rod 26. The piston is slidably mounted in an inner sleeve 23, the upper end of which is attached to a bushing 23 carrying a seal 36 which acts against the piston rod 26. The upper end of an intermediate sleeve 3l is attached to the bushing 29 and is included in a lower part of the shock absorber pivotally mounted on a bolt 32. The lower part of the shock absorber will also include a base member 33 to which the lower end of the intermediate sleeve 3l is fixed and a ring 34 through which the bolt 32 extends. The upper and lower ends of the shock absorber 22 may also be connected to the bracket portion 20 and the link 35 so that provision is made for any in or out movement of the link 35 with respect to the plane of the drawlng.

The bolt 32 is mounted in the outer end of an intermediate support member 35, the inner end of which is. pivotally connected to the frame member i0 by means of a bolt 35. The intermediate support member 35 has a seat portion 3T provided lwith a depending flange 38./ The lower side of the seat portion 31fand the ange 38 form a seat for the upper end of a relatively soft coil spring 39, the lower end of which is seated on a flanged ring 40 formed of an iniiexible metallic or non-metallic substance, positioned in an annular groove 4I formed in a member 42 mounted upon the lower link I3. A short generally cylindrical part 43 is secured in embracing relation to the depending flange 3B and formswith the upper side of the seat portion 31 a seat for the lower end of a relatively stili coil spring 44. The upper end of the coil spring 44 rests against a flange ring 45 formed or" an inexble metallic or non-metallic substance, held by the spring 44 against the under side of the top portion of the frame member IE). A depressed portion 46 is formed in the upper portion of the frame member IU within the coil spring 44.

The outer ends of the upper and lower links I1 and I3 are respectively pivotally connected to the upper and lower ends of a carrying member 41 by means of the bolts I6 and I4. The carrying member 4l has a knuckle-supporting portion 43 upon which rests a knuckle 49. A king pin 50 pivotally connects the knuckle 49 to the knucklecarrying portion 48. Formed integral with the knuckle 49 is a spindle 5I adapted to carry a steerable wheel, not shown.

The connections of the upper end of the shock absorber 22 to the bracket portion 2E) and of the lower end of the shock absorber to the intermediate support member 35 are solid and inflexible axially of the shock absorber, the connections of the ends of the shock absorber to the bracket portion 2D and the link 35 being pivotal or universal. Thus the shock absorber will absorb all vibrations involving movement of the intermediate member 35 toward and away from the bracket portion 20. The shock absorber 22 with its inexible end connections and the coil spring series 39, 44, the shock absorber being connected across only the spring 44, provides a novel and improved suspension as applied to automotive vehicles and more particularly as applied to vehicles including links connecting a steerable wheel to a body frame member. The shock absorber 22 with its inflexible end connections damps vibrations of any masses associated with the system such as the wheel and its immediately associated parts, the body supported mass or spring mass, and the intermediate mass associated with the spring seats and shock absorber, which vibrations tend to be transmitted through the springs 39 and 44 in series, since any vibration involves displacement of both springs. The free coil spring which in this case happens to be the soit spring is free to cushion impact, since there is no tendency for the shock absorber to by-pass this spring. Although it might appear that this arrangement would not prevent wheel dance, i. e., vibration of Wheel and associated mass between the tire and the spring suspension, actually the arrangement will prevent wheel dance, because the series arangement of the springs transmits any displacement of the undamped spring to the damped spring and the shock absorber connected thereacross. This arrangement is desirable because it has been discovered that when a shock absorber is connected entirely across a spring means in a vehicle suspension, the absorber sometimes acts as a shock transmitter rather than as a shock absorber. However, when in the present arrangement the shock absorber is connected across only a portion of .the spring suspension means, namely, the upper relatively stii coil spring 44, the lower relatively soft coil `spring 39 is free to cushion the impact that might otherwise be transmitted through a shock absorber connected in parallel with the spring 39. It is also possible to reverse the arrangement of springs, i. e. to make the undamped spring the relatively stili one and the damped spring the relatively soft one.

Iclaim:

1. In a vehicle, body-connected structure, an upper link pivotally connected at one end to the body-connected structure, a wheel-carrying member connected to the other end of the upper link, rigid lower link structure having one end pivoted to swing on said body-connected structure and a spring seat portion with an annular spring seat groove formed therein, said rigid lower link structure having the opposite end pivotally connected to the wheel-carrying member, an intermediate member having reception-forming portions adapted for connection with said body-connected struc'.ure and rigid lower link structure, a relatively soft interposed coil spring received by one of said intermediate member reception-forming portions and having a remote end seated in the spring seat groove formed in the rigid lower link structure thereby providing a spring connection between the intermediate member and rigid lower link structure, said body-connected structure being provided with spring engagement means, a relatively stiff interposed coil spring received by a second intermediate member reception-forming portion and having a remote end engaging said spring engagement means of the body-connected structure, and a telescopic shock absorber having an articulated mounting at one end detachably connected to the intermediate member andl an articulated mounting at the other end detachably connected to said body-connected structure to dampen oscillations of the relatively stiff interposed coil spring.

2. In a vehicle, body-connected structure, an upper link pivotally connected at one end to the body-connected structure, a wheel-carrying member connected to the other end of the upper link, rigid lower link structure having one end pivoted to swing on said body-connected structure and a spring seat portion with an annular spring seat groove formed therein, said rigid lower link structure having the opposite end pivotally connected to the Wheel-carrying member, an intermediate member having reception-forming portions adapted for connection with said body-connected structure and rigid lower link structure, a relatively soft interposed coil spring received by one of said intermediate member reception-forming portions and having a remote end seated in the spring seat groove formed in the rigid lower link structure thereby providing a spring connection between the intermediate member and rigid lower link structure, said body-connected structure being provided with spring engagement means, a relatively stiiT interposed coil spring received by a second intermediate member reception-forming portion and having a remote end engaging said spring engagement means of the body-connected structure, pivot forming means pivotally connecting said intermediate member to one of said structures for swingably mounting the intermediate member thereupon, and a telescopic shock absorber having an articulated mounting at one end detachably connected to the intermediate member and an articulated mounting at the other end detachably connected to said one structur to dampen the oscillations of the interposed coil sprmg. y' 3.' In a vehicle, a frame member, a wheelcarrying member, telescopin'g sleeve structure altra-1a? provided with means Aforming clamping mechanism therein, 'upper .and lower link members connecting the frame and wheel-'carrying members, said lower link having means forming :a yspring seat therein, a coil compression spring seated in the 'seat means in said 'lower link .and having an end for transmitting thrust fof the lower link, an

intermediate member pivotally connected at one end to the frame member and engaging the thrust transmitting end of the -coil compression spring for receiving thrust `of the lower link, a second coil compression spring, said second coil compression spring and said telescoping sleeve structure each having one end operatively connected With the `frame member and the other end operatively connected with 'the .intermediate member for cooperatively accommodating relative movement 4between said intermediate and frame members and being laterally offset one `from the other.

4. In a vehicle, .a body-connected member, an upper relatively short ,link pivotally connected at one end yto the body-connected member, a lovver relatively long link pivotally connected at one end to the body-connected member, a carrier for a steerable wheel connected to the other ends of the links, an intermediate member, a relatively stiff coil compression spring engaging .the intermediate member and a region of the bodyconnected member adjacent the'connection of the upper link, said coil spring transmitting compression loads `between the intermediate and body-connected members, a relatively soft coil compression spring engaging the intermediate member and a region of the lower link so as to,

transmit compression loads therebetween, and a telescopic shock absorber having ends connected for pivotal movement with the intermediate member and with the body-connected f member to which the stiff coil compression spring is connected and at a region on the said bodyconnected member spaced relative to the upperlink connection aforesaid.

5. In a vehicle having a body-connected member, a three-link individual Wheel suspension for one of laterally spaced Wheels thereadjacent comprising first, second, and third laterally extending links pivotally connected at their inner ends to the body-connected member for swinging movement respectively about vertically spaced horizontal axes, a vertically disposed carrier for the wheel connected to the outer end of the first and third links, telescoping sleevev structure forming a double-ended shock absorber connected at one end to the body-connected member, said second link having its outer end connected to the other end of shock absorber andy having a flat circular intermediate portion, spring seats formed on the body-connected memberand on the third link in substantial transverse vertical alignment with the flat circular portion on the second link, and a pair of load springs seated on the respective spring seats one engaging one side of the flat circular portion and the other engaging the opposite side of the at circular portion on the second link, the spring seated on the third link being compressible to absorb temporary impact shock movement of the third link without causing movement ofa corresponding magnitude in the second link to which the body-member-connected shock absorber is connected.

6. In a vehicle having a body-connected mem,-

` ber, a three-link individual wheel suspension for one of,.latera1ly spaced wheels thereadjacent comprisingfnrst, second, and third Slater-ally extending vlinks .pivotally connected at their inner ends to the lbody-connected member tor-swinging movement respectively about vertically spaced horizontal axes, fa vertically disposed carrier 'for the Awheel connected to the .outer end of the first and third links, telescoping 4sleeve .structure forming .a .double-'ended shock :absorber pivotally connected at yone end to the body-connected member, said second `link vhaving its :outer end pivotally connected :to the fother :end of shock absorber and having 1a tiiat circular intermediate portion disposed generally .in Ithe plane of the swing :axis of the second link, .spring 4seats formed on 'the body-connected member and on the third link in substantial transverse vertical alignment with the fiat circular portion on the second link, and a Vpair of loadv springs seated on the respective spring seats one engaging one side ofthe flat circular ,portionanfi the other engaging the opposite side of the vflat circular 'portion' on `the second link. the spring seated on the third link being compressible to absorb temporary impact shock movement ofthe third link Without causing movement of a corresponding magnitude .in the second link to which the body-connected shock vabsorber is connected.

7. In a vehicle having 'a body-connected lmember, 4a three-link individual vvheel suspension for one of laterally spaced wheels thereadjacent' comprising first, second, and third laterally extending .links pivotally connected 'at Ytheir vinner ends to the body-connected member for swinging movement respectively about vertically spaced horizontal axes, a vertically disposed carrier for the Wheel connected to the outer end of the rst and third links, telescoping sleeve structure forming a double-ended shock absorber connected at one end to the body-connected member, said second link having its outer end connected to the other end of shock absorber and having a flat circular intermediate portion, spring seats formed on the body-connected member and on the third link in substantial transverse vertical alignment with the flat circular portion on the second link, and a pair of load springs seated on the respective spring seats having different spring rates and one engaging one side of the fiat circuit portion and the other engaging the opposite side of the at circular portion on the second link, the spring seated on the body-connected member being relatively stiff and the spring seated on the third link being relatively soft and compressible to absorb temporary impact shock movement of the third link without causing movement of a corresponding magnitude in the second link to which the body-member-connected shock absorber is connected.

8. In a vehicle having a body-connected member, a three-link individual wheel suspension for one of laterally spaced wheels thereadjacent comprising first, second, and third laterally extending links pivotally connected at their inner ends to the body-connected member for swinging movement respectively about vertically spaced horizontal axes, a vertically disposed carrier for the wheel connected to the outer end of the rst and third links, telescoping sleeve structure forming a double-ended shock absorber connected at one end to the body-connected member, said second link having its outer end connected to the other end of shock absorber and having a flat circular intermediate portion, spring seats formed on the body-connected member in the region of the first link swing axis and on the third link in substantial transverse'vertical aligrk ment with the ilat circular portionA on the second link, and a pair of coaxial coil load springs in series seated on the respective spring seats one `engaging one side of the iiat circular portion and the other engaging the body-connected member opposing opposite sides of the at circular portion on thesecond link and acting there.. against and against the region of the rst link swing axis on the body-connected member, the springv seated on the third link being compressible to absorb temporary impact shock movement of the third link without causing movement of 1a corresponding magnitude in the second link to which the body-member-connected shock absorber is connected.

9. In a vehicle, a body-connected member, links extending laterally of said member comprising an upper relatively short link pivotally connected at its inner end to the body-connected member, a lower relatively long link pivotally connected at its inner` end to the body-connected member, a carrier for a steerable wheel connected to the other ends of the links, an inter# mediate member swingably mounted upon the body-connected member, a relatively stiff elastic supporting means between the swingably mounted intermediate member and a region of the body-connected member adjacent the connection of the upper link, a relatively soft elastic supporting means between the swingably mounted intermediate member and the lower link,

8 and 'damping-.means connected across only the stiff elastic supporting means to absorb energy upon all relative movement of the parts toward and away from one another between which the said stiff elastic supporting means is connected and to leave the soft elastic supporting means free to cushion impact.

' ROBERT N. JANEWAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,612,421 DeRam Dec. 28, 1926 1,702,675 Ventura Feb. 19, 1929 1,965,447 Bell et al. July 3, 1934 2,093,259 Wightman Sept. 14, 1937 2,113,382 Oppenheimer 1 Apr. 5, 1938 "2,333,096:y DoWty Nov. 2, 1943 2,338,478 Wuli 1 Jan. 4, 1944 2,344,896 Phelps c Mar. 21,` 1944 2,387,732 Bailey Oct. 30, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 400,134 Great Britain Oct; 19, 1933 465,550 Great Britain May 10, 1937 844,796 France May 1, 1939 377,789 Italy Jan. 5, 1940 570,183 Great Britain June 26, 1945 

